Navy vets recall dedication, sacrifice at sea

To those who've served on them, the Navy’s ships are living communities, full of memories

06/06/1963: Aboard the carrier Kitty Hawk. President Kennedy and Gov. Edmund G. Brown (with binoculars) on the deck of the carrier Kitty Hawk off the southern California coast. Kennedy watched the Navy put on a two hour show of its might. AP wirephoto (T 6/7/63)

06/06/1963: Aboard the carrier Kitty Hawk. President Kennedy and Gov. Edmund G. Brown (with binoculars) on the deck of the carrier Kitty Hawk off the southern California coast. Kennedy watched the Navy put on a two hour show of its might. AP wirephoto (T 6/7/63)

A Japanese torpedo plane is salvaged from the bottom of Pearl Harbor following the attack on Dec. 7, 1941. A Pearl Harbor excavation crew recently found a skull believed to be from a Japanese pilot who died in the assault. AP

A Japanese torpedo plane is salvaged from the bottom of Pearl Harbor following the attack on Dec. 7, 1941. A Pearl Harbor excavation crew recently found a skull believed to be from a Japanese pilot who died in the assault. AP

ROBERT DERENZY

San Diego, destroyer Murray (DD-576)

We were on picket duty ahead of the fleet when we were attacked by a Japanese torpedo plane. I was topside, where I saw the plane drop a torpedo at us. I was ready to hit the water. But luckily, I didn’t have to because the torpedo went all the way through our bow and came out the other side. We were told the torpedo had not traveled far enough in the water to arm itself.

DAVID LANGENHORST

Lakeside, submarine tender Dixie (AD-14)

Since we were moored in (San Diego Bay), the only way ashore and back was by boat. The ship ran utility boats to Broadway landing, but a more popular transport was a water taxi service located next to the San Diego Rowing Club at the end of Fifth Avenue. We called the boats “nickel snatchers.” They actually cost a quarter.

At that time, enlisted personnel were not allowed to keep civilian clothes on the ship. Of course, most sailors were anxious to get out of uniform when on liberty. To solve the problem, several old buildings on Fifth were used as locker clubs. For a monthly fee, you could rent a locker and have a place to change into “civies.” The military haircuts were still a dead giveaway, especially in the ’60s.

Another establishment I remember well was the Seven Seas on lower Broadway. Seven Seas catered solely to sailors. To look sharp, you could buy tailor-made uniforms, rolled neckerchiefs, hats, etc. Also popular were patent leather military-style shoes. With patent leather, you could save countless hours of “spit” shining shoes for inspections.

PAUL LAFRENZ

La Jolla, aircraft carrier Constellation

Fire at sea is a dangerous and frightening experience for any ship. Damage control and firefighting are critical and important jobs aboard ship.

It seemed we had a fire aboard the Constellation almost every other day that I was aboard. We would hear the call over the … speaker system: “Away the Flying Squad — fire, fire, fire,” with a further announcement as to the location.

Hearing the announcement, the ship’s well-trained firefighting and damage-control crew would literally fly through the ship en route to the named location. It was our job to get out of their way as they came sprinting by.

One beautiful Sunday in the Indian Ocean, many of us were sitting in our bathing suits amid the chained-down aircraft on the flight deck enjoying a restful day of no flight operations.

Our little piece of real estate was located up near the bow catapults, which continued to release hot steam into the air as they were active — to be immediately available for use if necessary. Sitting on small lawn chairs on the hot, sandpaper-like steel decks, among the multitude of aircraft and other dangerous equipment, we felt a bit exposed, but were enjoying the break.

Suddenly, there was a howl from one of my buddies. And to our shock, we looked over to see a pool of fire that had developed right near our location. Apparently, an A-7 Corsair had dripped fluid down into the steamy hot cat tracks, and the drippings had ignited and started a fire. All of us brave, scantily clad officers immediately started scattering in every direction away from the fire, seeking safety. Almost instantly, like a superhero, one of the young enlisted sailors who worked the flight deck dashed past us rapidly fleeing officers and attacked the spreading fire with a fire extinguisher. As we, all standing in our flip-flops and bathing suits, turned and watched from a distance, he in no time had without hesitation attacked and put the fire out.

Well then, that’s much better, we all observed as we, a bit embarrassed, slowly skulked back to our recently abandoned possessions. This incident made me again appreciate the importance of all people in a successful venture regardless of their status and position.